How much more is known today of the Roman Republic and Athenean Democracy than was known in 1787?

by pseud023

If the US founding fathers used these two systems of government as inspiration for their own, have discoveries since the US Constitution was drafted shed new light onto the intricacies and actual practice of the ancient governments? Do we know more detail today regarding their fall than was known in 1787?

jeffbell

Just to clarify, are you looking for what was known in any part of the world? Or the impressions of Americans of that era?